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Lamine Yamal Lionel Messi BarcelonaGetty/GOAL
Soham Mukherjee

'Still not good enough' - Frenkie de Jong shuts down Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi comparisons with Barcelona star adamant no player will ever come close to Inter Miami captain

L. Yamal
L. Messi
Barcelona
LaLiga
Inter Miami CF
Major League Soccer
Spain
Netherlands
UEFA Nations League A

Frenkie de Jong shut down Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi comparisons as the Dutch star believes the teenager is "still not good enough".

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

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Over 28 monthsSave 80%
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Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Yamal has been sensational for Barca & Spain
  • Has often been compared to Messi
  • De Jong believes no one can match the Argentine's aura
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Yamal’s meteoric rise in both club and international football has naturally sparked discussions about his potential to emulate Messi’s career. At just 17 years old, he has already amassed an impressive list of achievements, including winning the European Championship with Spain, as well as claiming both the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy awards.

  • Lamine Yamal Lionel Messi 2025Getty/GOAL

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Yamal's journey has followed a familiar trajectory, coming through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, which also produced Messi and has broken numerous records since making his senior debut at just 15 years old. However, De Jong is still not convinced that Yamal should be mentioned in the same breath as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

  • WHAT DE JONG SAID

    Speaking to reporters, De Jong said: "I don't think you should compare him with Messi because I think that every footballer you compare with Messi is, still not good enough. I don't think there will be another one like Messi."

    Although De Jong dismissed the Messi comparisons, he did not hold back in praising Yamal’s exceptional skill set and his remarkable ability to influence games at such a young age.

    "What he is doing at this age is exceptional and very rare. He is a natural talent," he said. “The way he understands the game, the decisions he makes at this age, are really impressive. I think this skill is completely innate, and fortunately, he has it.”

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  • Lamine Yamal Spain EURO 2024Getty Images

    WHAT NEXT?

    De Jong and Yamal will be on opposite sides when the Netherlands take on Spain in the second leg of their Nations League quarter-final in Valencia on Sunday. The first leg played at De Kuip, ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw after Mikel Merino netted a stoppage-time equaliser.